Wings Over Burma - 194 Squadron (Dakotas)

[robstitt]

A copy of the above 78-page self-published booklet by Canadian pilot Neill M MacGregor has come into my hands. Planning to send to the Burma Star Association in London for their library but happy to scan if anyone is interested.
Regards:
Robert

[Amrit]

Rob

I would love a copy please

A

[robstitt]

Hi Amrit:
Give me a few days and it will be on its way.
Regards:
Robert

[Andy in West Oz]

Me too please, Rob. Are you particularly interested in anything specific that I might, by some bizarre chance, be able to send in return?

[robstitt]

No problem. The only thing that comes to mind (for someone else's project) is have you come across anything about RAAF aircrew who flew on B-17s with the 19th BG in New Guinea?
Robert

[Andy in West Oz]

Rob, I believe I have but will have to dig for it. I'll get digging!

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Rob,

There were three RAAF airmen killed while attached to the 19th BG.

AUS6694 Sgt George Stewart ANDREWS RAAF
+14-8-1942
435th BS/19th BG
B-17E 41-2656

AUS409296 P/O Allan Jack DAVENPORT RAAF Silver Star (US) Posthumous.
+5-10-1942
30th BS/19th BG
B-17F 41-24403

AUS403325 F/Sgt Frederick Wentworth EARP RAAF Distinguished Service Cross (US) Posthumous.
+7-8-1942
92nd BS/19th BG
B-17E 41-2429

Check their files at the NAA for further details.

Col.

[COL BRUGGY]

Rob,

Here is a listing of RAAF casualties on No.194 Sqn RAF:

AUS416016 F/Sgt Ansell Edward BRITTEN-JONES RAAF - 15-4-1943

AUS407378 F/O Geoffrey Colin SCOTT RAAF - 18-4-1944

AUS407140 P/O Ross Wilson JEFFERIES RAAF - 6-5-1944

AUS413791 W/O Walter Douglas PEARCE RAAF - 19-6-1944

AUS401051 F/O Paul Walter Wallace RICHARDSON RAAF - 24-8-1944

AUS421488 P/O Philip Maurice GUNN RAAF - 3-5-1945
AUS432007 P/O Thomas Kevin Francis Xavier LEAVEY RAAF - 3-5-1945
AUS434575 P/O Robert Nisbert PITTENDRIGH RAAF - 3-5-1945
AUS10769 P/O Colin Allan WALTON RAAF - 3-5-1945

AUS419070 F/O Neil William NEELANDS RAAF - 20-6-1945
AUS437031 W/O Allan Oliver WALKINGTON RAAF - 20-6-1945

AUS426255 F/O Graham Henry GLASGOW RAAF - 25-7-1945
AUS418707 P/O Geoffrey Charles Oscar POLLIE RAAF - 25-7-1945
AUS422284 P/O William VAUGHAN RAAF - 25-7-1945

Col.

[Steve Birdsall]

Hi Rob,

There were three RAAF airmen killed while attached to the 19th BG.

AUS6694 Sgt George Stewart ANDREWS RAAF
+14-8-1942
435th BS/19th BG
B-17E 41-2656

AUS409296 P/O Allan Jack DAVENPORT RAAF Silver Star (US) Posthumous.
+5-10-1942
30th BS/19th BG
B-17F 41-24403

AUS403325 F/Sgt Frederick Wentworth EARP RAAF Distinguished Service Cross (US) Posthumous.
+7-8-1942
92nd BS/19th BG
B-17E 41-2429

Check their files at the NAA for further details.

Col.

There was a fourth loss:

412502 Pilot Officer Allan Graham FAIRFAX
22-11-1942
65th BS/43rd BG (previously 30th BS/19th BG)
B-17E 41-2536

I'm trying to fully identify a couple of RAAF navigators who flew with the 19th Bomb Group, Pilot Officer John Eakins and Pilot Officer Fowler. I believe both were from No. 19 Course of the Empire Air Training Scheme. Can anybody add the details?

[COL BRUGGY]

G'Day Steve,

You're a long way from home!

I restricted my comments on casualties to the 19th BG.

In relation to your mention of P/O John EAKINS. I ran into this problem ages ago after reading a wartime report from Australian War Correspondent, George H Johnston. Johnston mentioned a, "P/O John Eakins, of Adelaide", as being a navigator on a US B-17 which ran into trouble in November 1942, when its inflatable dinghy was accidentally released and wrapped itself around the B-17's port elevator. The aircraft, which was piloted by Lt Melville M. EHLERS, made it safely back to base. (The report also mentioned that Melville had had to ditch his aircraft on a coral reef near Milne Bay, a few days earlier.)

When the DVA RAAF Nominal Roll was first released, I did some work on early South Australian enlistments. Amongst those airmen was one - 416553 John Lyall EDKINS, repeat, EDKINS. Though I have no proof, I have always believed that this airman was in fact the "EAKINS", mentioned by Johnston. (I never did locate a "John EAKINS RAAF"!)

Edkin's files at the NAA are not digitised. Maybe someone can help in this regard.

Your comments would be of interest.

Col. (From Melbourne).

NB. This posting is somewhat OT, so it might be better if pursued elsewhere. I'll leave that up to others.

[Steve Birdsall]

Hi Col -

Many thanks for your reply. Yes, I was chasing the elusive "Eakins" from the same press clipping you were. The only additional information I have is that the co-pilot of the B-17 was Lt William H. Wilson, and the gunner who shot at the life raft was Lowell Lee, not "Lovell".

I'm sure you're on the right track about it being John Edkins - at the time of the incident Melville "Dutch" Ehlers and Wilson were still with the 19th's 93rd Bomb Squadron. The date was November 4, 1942 and I believe the target was Salamaua. I'm trying to identify the B-17 involved.

Speaking of wartime press reports, I'm sure you're familiar with the "Age" article about the five Australian co-pilots and navigators involved in the October 13, 1942 Rabaul mission. I've identified four of them easily enough, but were you able to pin down "Warrant-Officer W. George, (co-pilot), of Adelaide"? I think this may be the 93rd Squadron fellow who was with Ken Casper when he crash-landed 41-2621 at Mareeba on August 26, 1942. American members of that crew only remember the co-pilot as "Digger George".

Agree this discussion no longer fits here, but I'm new here and unsure if a new thread about Australians in the 19th Bomb Group is appropriate.

[COL BRUGGY]

Steve,

Afraid I can't help with (Nav.) P/O Fowler, or (co-pilot) W/O W. George. I'm not familiar with the "Age" article, but will chase it up in our State Library.

If anything turns up, I will be in touch. You should'nt be too hard to find!

By the way, thanks for "FB's", "LOTL's" etc. Many enjoyable hours spent in their company.

Col.

[lillybus]

Hi, I was researching
my father in laws brother, Paul Richardson who flew with the 194 sqaudron and came across this thread. I would love to be able to get him a copy of the booklet you are all talking about. My first time at communicating in a forum, so hope all though this is an old topic maybe someone will get back to me. Thanks in anticipation Liz

[robstitt]

Hi Liz:

Just spotted your post. I've been tardy with scanning the entire booklet but have half of it done as a PDF and your note prompts me to finish it and send to the others who have expressed interest and who have 'part one'.

Please let me have your email - send me an email at the address you'll see when you click on my name - and I'll send it on.

BTW, was in touch with 'Phil' at burmastarATbtconnectDOTcom - it is the 194 Sqn association located at 34 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH

Regards:

Robert

[Oldduffer]

You might wish to know that there are at least two other books dealing with 194 Sqn. They are:

The Friendly Firm by Wilfred Russell which runs to 115 pages plus un-numbered appendices. This book was published by the Sqn Association in 1972 but it has no ISBN and appears to have been created on a typewriter before being printed and then bound using a plastic spiral binder. The work covers 1942 to 1946 and 1953 to 1959.

The second book, written by Flt Lt Douglas Wiiliams is called 194 Squadron and has an ISBN of 0863033261 and is published by Maslands of Tiverton and was produced in 1987. This book deals only with the Burma years with Hudsons and the Dakota.

Neither book mentions the mutiny!!!!

194 Sqn became the RAF's first helicopter squadron as the Casualty Evacuation Flight was raised to formal squadron status. Sadly, as with many other squadrons, it did not survive the many cuts and with the current RAF squadron numbering policy, it will never be resurrected - great pity.

Colin Cummings

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Robert
Just spottet this post. I would be interested in a scan of the book if stille possible.

Thank you in advance.

Mikkel

[DCAllison]

A copy of the above 78-page self-published booklet by Canadian pilot Neill M MacGregor has come into my hands. Planning to send to the Burma Star Association in London for their library but happy to scan if anyone is interested.
Regards:
Robert

Good morning Robert
I am trying to find out more information about 194 squadron and would be very interested to read your aforementioned booklet. Thanks very much. Dorothy

[Philly5696]

Hi Rob, if not too late I would love a copy....I've just found information that towards the end of the war my Dad's 10 Squadron changed to Dakotas and went to India and Burma.... This would be of great interest to me... Thanks.